How to Fix a TV Remote Control

If you have replaced the batteries on your TV remote but some buttons still don't work or none of them work well, you can now fix it yourself. Most times it doesn't work because the connectors on the circuit board are dirty. You can easily clean them and have your remote working like new instead of buying a new remote control. This article will show you how easy and quickly it is to fix your remote with items you probably already have in your home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Knife
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Q-Tip

1. 
    

   Remove the batteries. Use a flat knife or letter opener to open your remote control. Some remotest may have a screw that may need to be removed but most are just snapped in with plastic. Align the knife flat and tilt it upward to get the plastic to snap up. Don't use the tip of the knife so you don't damage your remote with scratches. Once one part of the remote is unsnapped it is easy to physically pull the rest apart with your hands.

2. 
    

   Once apart, you will have the lid you removed, a rubber key pad, and under the key pad a circuit board which is usually green with silver soldering on it. Try not to touch the soldering with your fingers as oils from your fingers can get it dirty.

3. 
    

   Pull the rubber keypad away from the circuit board and wash it in soapy water. You will already see how dirty it is. All that dirt or spilled soda on it is what is keeping it from making contact. Clean and let it set to dry.

4. 
    

   Now take a Q-tip and dip it into some rubbing alcohol. Clean the circuit board with the Q-tip. The rubbing alcohol will evaporate quite quickly. You will see the dirt come off on the Q-Tip.

5. 
    

   Once the circuit board and rubber pad are dry, place the rubber pad back on the circuit board and snap the lid back on. Place the batteries back in and you can now use your remote that you fixed yourself. You will see that all your buttons will work with ease. So now if someone ever spills soda on your remote and it stops working, or the volume buttons just don't seem to work unless you press really hard, it may be that you just need a little cleaning and now you now how to do it. Save yourself some money instead of buying a new remote and fix it yourself. It's fairly easy.

Tips & Warnings

• If your Q-Tip gets too dirty, replace it with another.
• Remember don't use the tip of the knife so you don't dig into the plastic and leave a mark.

[gahazeleyes]

on 8/19/2009 Very informative. Thanks for sharing.

[pitroadtoad]

on 8/18/2009 I hear yahh man! I’ll use this advice as soon as toady! I have two old remotes that quit workin’ for the reasons you have outlined.

P.S. Please write a follow-up on how to... get a remote away from a wife!

Five ‘Bad Boys’ ‘n ahh RRRrrrrrrrr!

[golfingpenquin]

on 8/10/2009 Thanks for the comment. I rarely have to replace batteries when my remotes stop working. This has been the solution most of the time. I have had many family members and friends ask me to show them how to do this to their broken remotes and it has also brought their remotes back to life. Remotes, we just can't live without them.

[cygnetbrown]

on 8/10/2009 Great tip! Most things that need remotes won't work without them. This info sure beats replacing the remote or worse, replacing the electronic device it controls!